ISSN: 0001-5113AADRAY

ACTA ADRIAT.,56(2): 245 - 258, 2015 ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER

Contribution to the knowledge of the animal xenodiversity along Calabrian coasts (southern Italy, central Mediterranean)

Emilio SPERONE1*, Gianni GIGLIO1, Mario ABATE1, Stefania GIGLIO2, Elena MADEO2, Antonella GIGLIO2, Salvatore GOLIA1, Ida SANGERMANO1, Gianluca

MAURO3, Vincenzo CIRCOSTA1,3, Maria ACETO4, Francesco FORESTIERI5, and Sandro TRIPEPI1

1DiBEST, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS) Italy

2GeoFisica srl, Catanzaro Italy

3Amphibian Diving Center, Rende (CS) Italy

4Department of Chemistry, University of Calabria, Italy

5Settore “Ambiente”, Provincia di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy

* Corresponding author, e-mail: emilio.sperone@unical.it

Key words: Introduced species, Biogeography, Ruditapes philippinarum, Gymnothorax moringa, lessepsian migration, Sphoeroides pachygaster

In this paper a contribution to the knowledge of marine and brackish water alien species recorded along the Calabrian coasts (Southern Italy, Central Mediterranean) during the period 2000-2013 is given. The study area is located in the center of the Mediterranean. Records of alien species come from 13 years of both field and opportunistic fishing surveys. Also a bibliographi-cal search in the scientific literature and public and private archives was performed. Eightenn of marine alien species recorded: 1 cnidarian, 11 molluscs, 3 crustaceans, and 4 bony fishes; in addi-tion to these, was considered also the presence of four bony fish, that have naturally spread into the Mediterranean: Sphoeroides pachygaster, Gymnothorax moringa, Pseunes pellucidus and Zenopsis conchifera. The highest number of records comes from the Messina Strait. The most common and widest observed species were Percnon gibbesi, Callinectes sapidus, Fistularia commersonii and Procambarus clarckii. The record of Ruditapes philippinarum in the Foce Crati is the first for the Ionian Sea and for the Central Mediterranean. Gymnothorax moringa is here recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean.

246 ACTA ADRIATICA, 56(2): 245 - 258, 2015

INTRODUCTION

Alien, Non-indigenous (NIS), exotic, non-native or allochthonous are species, subspecies or lower taxa, present in the wild, introduced outside of their natural range and beyond their natural dispersal potential (ZENETOS et al., 2010). In many cases, their presence in the given region is due to intentional or unintentional introduction resulting from human activities. Natural shifts in distribution ranges do not qualify a species as a NIS (OLENIN et al., 2010), but let include that species in the xenofauna of a region. The intro-duction and the spread of alien species are con-sidered among the main threats to biodiversity at different scales and extent (HULME et al. 2009), both in the terrestrial and in the marine context (BAX et al., 2003; MOLNAR et al. 2008; OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI et al., 2011). In fact, alien species may displace and reduce populations of native spe-cies (KUPFERBERG 1997; WILSON 1997; HODDLE 2004; SPERONE et al. 2010) and can influence the way by which they use habitat resources (HERL-BOLD & MOYLE 1986; WILLIAMSON 1996).

The ecological implications of these inva-sions are of primary importance and concern to the entire biosphere. A first and valuable tool for managing invasive species of conservation importance is the knowledge of their presence and localization in the territory and the confir-mation of their successful reproduction in natu-ral conditions (CRESCENTE et al. 2014). For this reason, alien species inventories are increasingly being published in the scientific literature and considerable international effort is devoted to gather and process information about the current situation in several parts of the globe. The Medi-terranean Sea is one of the seas of the world most affected by biological invasions in terms of how long the invaders have been present (OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI, 2000; STREFTARIS et al., 2005), in number of alien species detected (COS-TELLO et al., 2010) and in the unprecedented rate of introduction (ZENETOS, 2009; 2010; ZENETOS et al., 2012). From 1978, when POR (1978) confirmed 128 proven lessepsian immigrants, the number of records of alien species have been consider-ably increased: recently ZENETOS et al. (2010;

2012) reported that 995 species of the Mediter-ranean fauna can be considered alien, and they have increased the total species richness of the Mediterranean Sea by 5.9%. The colonization processes of alien species differ in relation to the way and the place of introduction and, then, to the climatic and ecological characteristics of the site in which it was entering the Mediter-ranean. The vast majority of alien species have been introduced in the Eastern Mediterranean (718), less in the Western Mediterranean (328) and Central Mediterranean (267) and least in the Adriatic Sea (171). Among these, thermophilic species account for 88.4% of the introduced species in the Eastern Mediterranean, 72.8% in the Central Mediterranean, 59.3% in the West-ern Mediterranean and 56.1% in the Adriatic. Cold water species represent a small percentage of the introduced species (between 4.2% and 21.6%) and are more numerous in the Adriatic and less in the Eastern Mediterranean (ZENETOS et al., 2010). This paper aims to present the state-of-art on the presence and acclimatization status of alien species along the coasts of Calabria, a region that lies in the Central Mediterranean. Freshwater species occurring in estuarine waters have been also considered. In the coloniza-tion process of the Mediterranean, the Central Mediterranean (and particularly Calabria and Sicily) represents a strategic site for monitor-ing biological exchanges between Western and Eastern Mediterranean (NICOLAIDOU et al., 2012; SPERONE et al., 2012). So, the information we give could represents a useful tool in order to better understanding and forecasting the colonization process of alien species in the Mediterranean.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

Calabria is located at the very south of Italy and it lies in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea (Fig. 1). The region is a long and narrow peninsula between the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian Seas, and it is separated from Sicily by the Strait of Messina. Together with Sicily and the Tunisian coast, Calabria divides the Mediterra-

247Sperone et al.: Contribution to the knowledge of the animal xenodiversity along Calabrian coasts...

nean Sea into western and eastern parts: so the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria lies in the western Mediterranean, while the Ionian one lies in the eastern Mediterranean. The Ionian continental shelf is not particularly wide, and the depth along the coast drops suddenly. The Strait of Messina is one of the two conjunction points between the western and eastern basins of the Mediterranean Sea. The sea floor of this basin could be considered a mount-like formation and the Strait is divided into two different sides: the northern side lies in the Tyrrhenian while the southern side lies in the Ionian. The two basins have different chemical-physical and biological characteristics. As Calabria belongs to two dis-tinct of the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), we considered separately the records from the Ionian Sea and those from the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Medi-terranean, WMED).

Data collection

Records of alien species presented in this work come from 13 years of both field and opportunistic fishing surveys, from 2000 to 2013, and by various collaborations with fisher-men, fisheries departments and marine police. In particular, commercial and recreational fisheries

landings and sightings records were considered. Also a bibliographical search in the scientific literature and public and private archives was performed. Our attention has been devoted to pluricellular animal: so from this survey algae, macrophytes and protozoa have not been con-sidered.

According to ZENETOS et al. (2010), we defined the acclimatization status of each species using the following terminology:

- Established (E): Introduced or feral popula-tion of species settled in the wild with free-living, self-maintaining and self-perpetuat-ing populations.

- Casual: Casual species are those having been recorded only once (no more than twice for fish) in the scientific and grey literature and are presumed to be non-established in the area.

- Invasive: Species defined as established aliens that have overcome biotic and abi-otic barriers and are able to disseminate away from their area of initial introduction through the production of fertile offspring with noticeable impact.True aliens were separated from species

which have naturally spread to regions beyond their usual range. Identification and all common names used in this paper followed the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS <www.marinespecies.org>) and contributing databases (like FishBase). All data that directly or indi-rectly provided information about the presence of alien species in the study area were consid-ered. Each confirmed record was georeferenced by GPS coordinates, and biometric (total length, weight) and ecological (depth, distance from shoreline, date of observation, climatic param-eters) data were also registered.

RESULTS

We confirmed for the study area the pres-ence of 18 alien species: 1 cnidarian (Clytia hummelinki), 11 molluscs (Aplysia dactylom-ela, Brachidontes pharaonis, Bursatella leachii,

Fig. 1. Study area and distribution of alien species

248 ACTA ADRIATICA, 56(2): 245 - 258, 2015

Cerithium scabridum, Fulvia fragilis, Hami-noea cyanomarginata, Melibe viridis, Pincta-da margaritifera, Pinctada radiata, Ruditapes philippinarum, Syphonota geographica), 3 crustaceans (Callinectes sapidus, Percnon gib-besi, Procambarus clarckii), and 3 bony fishes (Fistularia commersoni, Platycephalus indicus, Stephanolepis diaspros); in addition to these, we considered also the presence of four bony fishes that have naturally spread into the Medi-terranean: Zenopsis conchifera, Gymnothorax moringa, Pseunes pellucidus and Sphoeroides pachygaster (Figures 1-2). In Table 1 the check-list of our records is reported. The presence of the all species in the study are was confirmed by original direct observations from the authors, except for Aplysia dactylomela, Brachidontes pharaonis, Cerithium scabridum, Clytia hum-melinki, Fulvia fragilis, Haminoea cyanomar-ginata, Melibe viridis, Pinctada margaritifera, Pinctada radiata, Pseunes pellucidus, Sypho-

nota geographica, Stephanolepis diasprosi and Zenopsis conchifera, whose presence was con-firmed from bibliographic research (Francesco Turano, unpublished data; BOERO et al., 1997; MOJETTA, 1998; GRAVILI et al., 2008; CROCETTA et al., 2009; GRAVILI et al., 2010; CROCETTA, 2012; CROCETTA & GALIL, 2012; ZENETOS et al., 2012). The most common and widest observed species was surely Percnon gibbesi that is distributed continuously along Calabrian coasts from about Cetraro (Tyrrhenian side) to Crotone (Ionian side). And it has been observed both on sandy and rocky substrates. Procambarus clarckii has colonized the whole Crati river system, from the river sourse to the river mouth, inhabiting also the transitional waters of the Foce del Crati Natural Regional Reserve. Bursatella leachii was observed both on the Ionian side and in the Messina Strait with many specimens. The reproduction of this species was observed too (Fig. 2b).

Fig. 2. Some of the alien species recorded for the Calabria region: a. Procambarus clarckii from Foce Crati; b. Bursatella leachii in reproduction from Foce Crati; c. Percnon gibbesi from Capo Bruzzano; d. Callinectes sapidus from Laghi di Sibari; e. Fistularia commersoni from Messina Strait

249Sperone et al.: Contribution to the knowledge of the animal xenodiversity along Calabrian coasts...

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250 ACTA ADRIATICA, 56(2): 245 - 258, 2015

Aplysia dactylomela, Brachidontes pharaonis, Cerithium scabridum, Clytia hum-melinki, Fulvia fragilis, Melibe viridis, Pinctada radiata, Pseunes pellucidus, Syphonota geo-graphica, Sphoeroides pachygaster, Ruditapes philippinarum, Callinectes sapidus and Fistu-laria commersoni were found just in few sites but with locally abundant and reproductive pop-ulations. Finally, Haminoea cyanomarginata, Pinctada margaritifera, Platycephalus indicus, Stephanolepis diaspros and Zenopsis conchifera were observed only in one site with just one specimen.

Also Gymnothorax moringa was observed just in one site located along the central Ionian side of the region. It was a pregnant female about 110 cm total lenght (Figure 3). The speci-men was caugth at a depth of about 8 m on a rocky bottom. To our knowledge, this is the first record of this specie for the Mediterranean.

Seven (31,8%) of the observed alien spe-cies are lessepsian migrators, four (18,2%) are species imported for aquaculture purposes, one (4,5 %) has been arrived due to shipping ballast and another one (4,5%) due to shipping fouling. The origin of five species (Aplysia dactylom-ela, Haminoea cyanomarginata, Melibe viridis, Pinctada radiata, Syphonota geographica) is unknown, while for Gymnothorax moringa, Pseunes pellucidus, Sphoeroides pachygaster and Zenopsis conchifera a natural range expan-sion through the Strait of Gibraltar could be confirmed.

DISCUSSION

Excluding Gymnothorax moringa, Pseunes pellucidus, Sphoeroides pachygaster and Zenop-sis conchifera, the 18 alien species confirmed for Calabria represent respectively the 6,7% of alien Cnidaria, the 35,5% of alien Mollusca, the 11,5 % of alien Crustacea and the 27,3 % of alien Osteichthyes reported fot the Italian waters (OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI et al., 2011).

The crab Percnon gibbesi was the most common species we observed. This is one of the most widely distributed grapsids in the world, with a range extending from California to Chile, from Florida to Brazil, and from Madeira to the Gulf of Guinea (MANNING & HOLTHUIS, 1981). From 1999, when it was first recorded in Lino-sa, the species has invaded the Mediterranean (SGHAIER et al., 2011), probably due to shipping ballast. Although this species had already been reported for the Calabria (FACCIA & BIANCHI, 2007; KATSANEVAKIS et al., 2011), data reported in the present paper not only confirm its pres-ence along the Tyrrhenian side, but also expand its distribution all over the Ionian coast. On the basis of our observations this species could be considered as invasive for the study area.

The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is native to northern America and has been established throughout the world as a result of recreational fishing and commercial introduc-tion for harvest as a food source (GHERARDI et al., 2011). In Europe, it was recorded for the first time in southern Spain in 1970s, but in Italy

Fig. 3. Specimen of Gymnothorax moringa from Le Castella

251Sperone et al.: Contribution to the knowledge of the animal xenodiversity along Calabrian coasts...

its first record dates back to 2006 (OSCOZ et al., 2010; OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI et al., 2011). The inva-sion success of Procambarus clarkii has been mainly attributed to its broad environmental tolerance and high fecundity (MACEDA-VAIGA et al., 2013). In Italy the species is reported as not established (OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI et al., 2011), but in Calabria our data let us affirm that this species is established along all the Crati river and mouth and it is becoming invasive, since several specimens have been sighted also from other areas. The population of the Foce Crati is, to our knowledge, the first one reported for transitional waters.

Bursatella leachii is a circumtropical opisto-branch considered as an established and locally invasive alien species in the Mediterranean and in Italy (ZENETOS et al., 2010; OCCHIPINTI-AMBROGI et al., 2011). It was reported in 1940 from the Palestine coast, then it colonized the Levantine basin and later the western Mediter-ranean. This mollusc is considered as one of the most widespread Lessepsian species as it is very common in the eastern Mediterranean. In Calabria this species could be considered as established: we confirmed its presence in the study area in 2 sites: in the Foce Crati (where we observed breeding specimens) and in the Strait of Messina.

The portunid blue crab Callinectes sapidus, a species originating from the western Atlantic, has been introduced into the Mediterranean through transport in ballast water or maybe for aquaculture interest. Several records have been published in recent years, with regard to the species’ distribution in the Adriatic (CASTRIOTA et al., 2012; ELEFTHERIOU et al., 2012). In Italy it is reported as an established species. This could be assumed also for Calabria, where the species has succesfully colonised the northern part of the Ionian coast. Our records represent the new southernmost sigthtings of the species for the Italian peninsula.

The origin and vector of transportation of Aplysia dactylomela are not clear (NICOLAID-OU et al., 2012; THESSALOU et al., 2012). Some authors considered that the Mediterranean popu-lations had been introduced through the Suez

Canal rather than trough the Strait of Gibraltar (CROCETTA & GALIL, 2012). However, recent molecular studies (VALDES et al., 2013) suggested that all Mediterranean populations are of Atlan-tic origin. In Calabria, the species occurs mainly along the north Tyrrhenian coast. In Italy this species is considered established: on the basis of our data also for the Calabria region we can confirm that this mollusc can be considered established too.

Clytia hummelinki is a circum-tropical hydrozoan. The species is present both in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, and it is dif-ficult, at present, to establish if it entered either from Suez or from Gibraltar, probably as ship-ping fouling. The species is presently widespread throughout the middle Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea; it Italy it is considered as inva-sive, especially along the coast of the Salento Peninsula (GRAVILI et al., 2008). BOERO et al. (2005) hypothesized that the rapid expansion of Clytia hummelincki might be the result of efficient dispersal of the medusa stage mainly obtained by displacement with currents. The first record of the species in the Mediterranean comes from Copanello, located in the Ionian coast of Calab-ria (BOERO et al., 1997): in this region the species can be considered as established. No records are known for the Strait of Messina and for the Tyr-rhenian coast of Calabria.

Cerithium scabridum is an Indo-Pacific spe-cies that has entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. The species is common in shallow waters, on rocky bottoms covered with low or no vegetation, but it mainly prefers peb-bles, where it forms dense populations. It has been found at several locations in the Mediter-ranean Sea (NICOLAIDOU et al., 2012). In Calabria the species is established with a reproductive population located along the Strait of Messina (CROCETTA et al., 2009).

Fulvia fragilis is a very thin shelled bivalve belonging to the cardiidid and it is distributed throughout the Indian Ocean. This species has penetrated the Mediterranean Sea, from the Indi-an Ocean through the Suez Canal (EL LAKHRACH et al., 2012) and presumably via shipping, in the central Mediterranean (GOUD & MIFSUD, 2009).

252 ACTA ADRIATICA, 56(2): 245 - 258, 2015

Although in Italy Fulvia fragilis is considered established, in Calabria we have knowledge just of one finding site for the species: for this reason we consider its presence as casual.

The Red Sea mussel Brachidontes pharaonis, another Lessepsian invasive species, was first recorded in the Mediterranean seven years after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. In the past 20 years it has become abundant in midlit-toral and infralittoral rocky habitats, especially along the rocky shores of the Eastern Mediterra-nean (DOGAN et al., 2007). In Italy it is considered as established species and, on the basis of our observations, we can confirm this status also for the Calabria region.

Also Haminoea cyanomarginata and Pincta-da radiata are supposed to be lessepsian migra-tors; however, these species are absent from the Suez Canal and have, to date, a limited distribu-tion in the Eastern Mediterranean (ZENETOS et al., 2005) and for this reason their origin is not completely clear. Haminoea cyanomarginata is a casual species both for Italian and Calabrian seas, while Pinctada radiata can be consid-ered as established. The record of Haminoea cyanomarginata (CROCETTA et al., 2009) is the first for the central Mediterranean.

Pinctada margaritifera has been imported for aquaculture from Red Sea to Mediterranean to produce pearls. This species is naturally dis-tributed in the Indo-Pacific. In the Mediterra-nean Sea it is very rare along the Egyptian coast: however, all records are very old and there are no recent sigthings of the species. For this rea-son it cannot be considered established in Italy. In Calabria there is a very old record along the Ionian coast in 1899 (BELLET, 1899).

Ruditapes philippinarum is naturally dis-tributed along Japanese coasts; the species has been introduced in the Mediterranean for marine farming in 1980 in France (BODOY et al., 1981); then, in 1983 it has been introduced also in the Venice lagoons for experimental aquaculture. In 2001 the species has been recorded in the Turkish North Aegean Sea, where is considered accidental (ALBAYRAK et al., 2001). In Italy it is considered invasive, especially in the Adriatic Sea. Our record in the Foce Crati is the first for the Ionian Sea and for the Central Mediterra-

nean, and the local population can be considered established.

Syphonota geographica is another possible Lessepsian migrant to Mediterranean, also if its origin is not completely clear. The species is considered as casual for Italy; we have found just one observation in the Strait of Messina (CROCETTA et al., 2009): this is the first confirmed record for the species in the central Mediter-ranean.

According to ZENETOS et al. (2010), Melibe viridis is one of the seven species of tropi-cal indo-Pacific origin which are proven non-Lessepsians. The Suez Canal as a pathway is not ruled out but the vector of Melibe viridis introduction is suspected to be ballast waters (TSIAKKIROS & ZENETOS, 2011). In Italy the spe-cies is considered as established; in Calabria it has been recorded just one time for the Strait of Messina and for this reason in our region the species can be considered casual.

Fistularia commersoni and Stephanolepis diaspros are benthopelagic species originating from the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific regions: they can both be considered as lessep-sian migrators. Fistularia commersonii is an active predator that is highly competitive with autochthonous teleost species (KALOGIROU et al., 2007).

Stephanolepis diaspros is usually associated with coastal rocky substrates and it feeds on small invertebrates (ELEFTHERIOU et al., 2011). Fistularia commersonii experienced a popula-tion explosion along the coast of Israel and subsequently spread westward. A similar situa-tion was observed for Stephanolepis diaspros. Particularly, reports from the Aegean Sea are becoming even more frequent and demonstrate a rapid expansion in the Mediterranean Sea (KARACHLE et al., 2004). In Italy Fistularia com-mersoni is considered established, especially along the Tyrrhenian coast: for the Calabria region we observed the presence of the species both along the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian side and on the basis of our observations we consider Fistularia commersoni as established.

Stephanolepis diaspros is not very com-mon in central Mediterranean, and in Italy it is

253Sperone et al.: Contribution to the knowledge of the animal xenodiversity along Calabrian coasts...

considered as a casual species, with only one record from the Gulf of Taranto. The presence of the species confirmed by Turano (unpublished data) in the Messina Strait is the southermost for the Italian peninsula and one of the western-most records in the Mediterranean. Also for the Calabria region, it can be considered as a casual species.

Sphoeroides pachygaster is a deep water species, circumglobally distributed in tropical and temperate seas. In the Mediterranean it was reported for the first time in 1979, and, with time, records of this species were continuous and numeorus in the laste decases both in the western and in the central Mediterranean (PSO-MADAKIS et al., 2006). Subsequent findings of the species has led authors to suppose that the introduction of the Sphoeroides pachygaster in the Mediterranean is due to a natural range expansion through the Strait of Gibraltar, with a subsequent eastwards diffusion. In Italy the species is considered established due to many records from the whole peninsula (PSOMADAKIS et al., 2006). In Calabria the species has been found along the southern Ionian and the Strait of Messina, and it can be considered as established too.

The Bluefin driftfish Psenes pellucidus is present in Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific oceans: so also its presence in the Mediterranean could be related to a natural range expansion through the Strait of Gibraltar. In Italy and in Calabria it can be considered established: in par-ticular, in our study area the species is present in the Strait of Messina.

Zenopsis conchifera is a species inhabit-ing the Western Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The first record of this species in the Mediterranean dates at 2007, when a specimen has been observed in Tunisia. In Italian waters this species has never been sighted. Two speci-mens of this Atlantic fish were caught on June 2010 by a bottom trawler targeting deep-water red shrimps off Diamante, along the Tyrrhenian side of Calabria (PSOMADAKIS et al., 2012). In the region Zenopsis conchifera could be considered as established. Also in this case, a natural range

expansion through the Strait of Gibraltar could be confirmed for the species.

Finally, the spotted moray Gymnothorax moringa is a medium to large moray eel found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, from North Caro-lina and Bermuda to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. It is also found around Mid - and Eastern Atlantic islands as far south as St. Helena. Our record represents the first evidence of the presence of this specie in the Mediterranean. Since the record is related to a pregnant female, we can assume that in Calab-ria an established population of Gymnothorax moringa could be present. About the origin of the species in the Mediterranean, it is reasonable to assume the entrance through the Straits of Gibraltar, although, since it is an aquarium fish, we can not exclude the release or the escape of the species from captivity in the wild.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a reference point for the knowledge of the presence and distribution of alien marine species in the Calabria region, which lies exactly in the centre of the Mediter-ranean. Until now there has been little docu-mentation about this topic, so the present paper represents a starting point for the knowledge and management of xenodiversity in Calabrian waters and, consequently, in the central Mediter-ranean. Since 75% of our sightings is referred to the Strait of Messina, it is possible to affirm that this area could represent a strategic site for monitoring the marine colonization proc-esses. Long-term monitoring programs should be encouraged in order to acquire further infor-mation.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authors are very gratefull to fishermen, coworkers and students who collaborated during sampling procedures. This work was supported by grants from the Province of Reggio Calabria and from MIUR (PRIN _CUP N. 200947YRB9).

254 ACTA ADRIATICA, 56(2): 245 - 258, 2015

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Received: 23 November 2013Accepted: 9 March 2015

258 ACTA ADRIATICA, 56(2): 245 - 258, 2015

Prilog poznavanju kseno-raznolikosti životinja duž obale Kalabrije (južna Italija, srednji Mediteran)

Emilio SPERONE1*, Gianni GIGLIO1, Mario ABATE1, Stefania GIGLIO2, Elena MADEO2, Antonella GIGLIO2, Salvatore GOLIA1, Ida SANGERMANO1,

Gianluca MAURO3, Vincenzo CIRCOSTA1,3, Maria ACETO4, Francesco FORESTIERI5 i Sandro TRIPEPI1

1DiBEST, Odjel biologije, ekologije i prirodnih znanosti, Sveučilište u Kalabriji,Rende (CS), Italija

2GeoFisica d.o.o.,, Katanzaro, Italija

3Ronilački centar (za amfipode-vodozemce), Rende (CS), Italija

4Odjel kemije, Sveučilište u Kalabriji, Italija

5Sektor “Okoliš”, Županija Reggio Calabria, Italija

*Kontakt adresa, e-mail: emilio.sperone@unical.it

SAŽETAK

Ovaj rad predstavlja prilog poznavanju stranih vrsta pronađenih u morskoj i boćatoj vodi duž Kalabrijske obale (južna Italija, Središnji Mediteran) u razdoblju od 2000. do 2013. godine. Područje istraživanja se nalazi u središtu Mediterana. Evidencija stranih vrsta je proizišla iz 13 godina terenskog rada i oportunističkih istraživanja. Također su izvršena bibliografska pretraživanja u znanstvenoj literaturi u javnim i privatnim arhivima. Ukupno je zabilježeno 18 morskih stranih vrsta: 1 cnidaria, 11 mekušaca, 3 raka i 4 ribe koštunjače koje su se prirodno proširile u Mediteranu: Sphoeroides pachygaster, Gymnothorax moringa, Pseunes pellucidus i Zenopsis conchifera. Najveći broj nalaza dolazi iz Mesinskog tjesnaca. Najčešće i najšire promatrane vrste su Percnon gibbesi, Callinectes sapidus, Fistularia commersonii i Procambarus clarkii. Zapis o nalazu vrste Ruditapes philippinarum, kod mjesta Foce Crati, je prvi za Jonsko more i središnji Mediteran. Gymnothorax moringa je po prvi put zabilježena u Mediteranu.

Ključne riječi: Alohtone vrste, biogeografija, Ruditapes philippinarum, Gymnothorax moringa, lesepsijske migracije, Sphoeroides pachygaster